[March 18, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

SAINT LEO, Fla. – Spending spring break in Florida means one thing to the majority of college students, but to the Southern Arkansas tennis team it means trying to conjure up some wins. The Lady Muleriders, on the road for the entire week, have seven scheduled matches during the break, and could see some added.

SAU got its competition started Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla., where they pulled off their first victory of the season in a 7-2 win over Eckerd College (0-8) before suffering a 9-0 setback at #29 Saint Leo (4-5).

Against Eckerd, Southern Arkansas took two doubles and five singles matches for the win. Rachel Vinsant and Caitlin Korensek had an 8-2 victory at #2 doubles, while Aneeka Bhalla and Megan Phinny claimed an 8-1 decision at #3. The Lady Muleriders got their singles wins at two through six. Vinsant had a 6-3, 6-2 advantage at two; Ana Gonzalez-Dorado won 7-5, 6-0 at three; Bhalla used a hard fought 7-6 (4), 6-2 decision at four; Korensek tossed a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at five; and Brooke Grigsby got her first win (6-2, 6-0) of the season at six.

Ranked 29th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll, Saint Leo held off a strong push from SAU in getting the shutout. Vinsant and Korensek made it close at #2 doubles in an 8-5 loss. Meaghan Ocanas was just edged at #3 singles, 6-7 (8), 6-7 (4), and Korensek lost a hard-fought battle at five, 5-7, 6-3, 3-10.

Southern Arkansas (1-3) continued play Tuesday, taking on Montevallo (Ala.) at 9 a.m. in Saint Leo, before traveling to Winter Park, Fla., for a 3:30 p.m. match against Rollins College.

Southern Arkansas (1-2) vs. Eckerd College (0-8)
Date: March 17, 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, Fla.

Doubles
1. Mak/Mak (EC) def. Ocanas/Gonzalez-Dorado (SAU), 6-8
2. Vinsant/Korensek (SAU) def. Flavia-Russo/Loizzo (EC), 8-2
3. Bhalla/Phinny (SAU) def. Chilton/Harbeitner (EC), 8-1

Singles
1. Madora Mak (EC) def. Meaghan Ocanas (SAU), 2-6, 1-6
2. Rachel Vinsant (SAU) def. Mary-Charlotte Mak (EC), 6-3, 6-2
3. Ana Gonzalez-Dorado (SAU) def. Maria Flavia-Russo (EC), 7-5, 6-0
4. Aneeka Bhalla (SAU) def. Danielle Loizzo (EC), 7-6 (4), 6-2
5. Caitlin Korensek (SAU) def. Rachel Chilton (EC), 6-0, 6-0
6. Brooke Grigsby (SAU) def. Rachel Harbeitner (EC), 6-2, 6-0

Final Score: SAU – 7, EC – 2

Southern Arkansas (1-3) vs. #29 Saint Leo (4-5)
Date: March 17, 2008 Location: Saint Leo, Fla.

Doubles
1. Benkirane/Tazi (SLU) def. Ocanas/Gonzalez-Dorado (SAU), 3-8
2. Keefe/Cleaves (SLU) def. Vinsant/Korensek (SAU), 5-8
3. Queen/Schifano (SLU) def. Bhalla/Phinny (SAU), 2-8

Singles
1. Lina Benkirane (SLU) def. Ana Gonzalez-Dorado (SAU), 3-6, 2-6
2. Asmaa Tazi (SLU) def. Rachel Vinsant (SAU), 2-6, 3-6
3. Shaena Keefe (SLU) def. Meaghan Ocanas (SAU), 6-7 (8), 6-7 (4)
4. Veronica Queen (SLU) def. Aneeka Bhalla (SAU), 2-6, 1-6
5. Gina Schifano (SLU) def. Caitlin Korensek (SAU), 5-7, 6-3, 3-10
6. Taylor Cleaves (SLU) def. Brooke Grigsby (SAU), 3-6, 4-6

Final Score: SAU – 0, SLU – 9

Match Comments: Saint Leo ranked 29th in the ITA Division II poll.